Reid says JFF also gearing towards staging world tourney

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary, Horace Reid, believes that the recently opened US$45-million Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James, has put his organisation in a position to seriously bid for the staging of an FIFA Congress here.

In an exclusive interview with The Gleaner on Thursday, following the tour of facilities to be used in the upcoming CONCACAF Under-17 Championship - which will be staged in western Jamaica - Reid said he believes the west was ideally equipped to host a prestigious event such as an FIFA Congress.

"I think the new convention centre offers that kind of accommodation that is first class," said Reid. "We also have the hotels to back it up."

The new convention centre recently received rave reviews after its successful staging of the two-day Caribbean Marketplace 2011, which was the first top-flight event to be staged at the venue, and was officially opened on January 7 by Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

"Our plan is to expose to FIFA, CONCACAF and CFU officials that will be coming here for next month's CFU Congress this convention centre as an option that is available to have other congresses here in Jamaica," said Reid. "We would love to see an FIFA Congress here in Jamaica."

In addition to the upcoming CONCACAF Under-17 Championship and the CFU Congress, Reid said the JFF is eying western Jamaica, specifically Montego Bay, as a possible hub for major high-profile football events.

"The long-term vision is to have a lot of major international events in Jamaica, especially in and around Montego Bay because of the facilities that are here," stated Reid. "The hotels and the convention centre are just but a few of the positives the west has in terms of measuring up to international standards."

Reid said Jamaica will be hoping to make a positive statement in its hosting of the upcoming Under-17 championship, which will feature countries such as the United States and Canada, both of which had also put in bids for the CONCACAF championship.

"If we can get another two or three stadiums like the new Catherine Hall facility, this would put us in a good position to go for an FIFA international youth tournament, and that is what we are after," Reid said. "We now have two facilities in western Jamaica (Catherine Hall and the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium) alongside the National Stadium in Kingston ... We need five to be able to go for a FIFA event."

Reid is optimistic that if Jamaica somehow manages to have in place the five facilities required for a FIFA tournament, the country's profile - which is already very high in relation to its size - will take on a new dimension.

"If we get those two additional facilities it would be excellent," said Reid. "It would put us in an excellent position to start talking seriously about sports tourism."

Following a two-day inspection of playing facilities in western Jamaica, officials expressed the view that Jamaica has put itself in a very good position to stage and excellent tournament.